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Our guest blogger today is Catriona Pollard. When I read her Email I instantly related to having been on Autopilot in the past and have, in the last few years, made a personal choice and commitment to ‘stop, look & listen’ to life.

Knowing that many of you remain on Autopilot, I wanted to share her message with you and for you ALL to ‘stop look and listen’ in your own lives…. it IS a beautiful world out there if you WANT to find it!

Michael ThornleyAuthour & Lifestyle Entrepreneur
( All rights to the below ‘article’ remain with Catriona Pollard. Please follow her on Social Media…links provided)

It’s time to stop running on autopilot

” My parents visited me the other day. Often we go for lunch or coffee, but it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon so we went for a stroll. As we walked my parents remarked on houses, and fences, and trees…a running commentary on our walk.

I have walked past these houses, fences and trees many times but no longer notice them. Through my parents’ eyes, I looked at them and saw them in a different way.

It made me think. How much in our lives do we no longer notice? I decided to test this idea.

Walking backwards

On the bush track I walk most days I decided to do my circuit in the opposite direction. Do you know what happened? I got lost twice. Seriously! I couldn’t believe it. I missed the start of one section and had to double back.

At one point I was standing looking at the entrances of two tracks and simply couldn’t figure out which one was my track. In fact, I never even knew there were two tracks in that section. Astounding!

I realised that often I’m lost in my thoughts while walking – which is not a bad thing as it’s my time to problem solve and come up with new ideas – but clearly I’m not taking notice of my surroundings either.

Turning off autopilot

How often are we on autopilot?

Have you ever driven to work and got to the car park and completely not remembered the drive?

Do you constantly check your emails on your phone, even though it states, “Last updated 2 minutes ago”?

Are you just so in your routine you rarely do anything spontaneous?

It’s really interesting to consider these questions. Even though I don’t consider that I’m living a life on autopilot, clearly at times I am. Now I’m trying to notice if I’m simply following a routine, and if possible, to snap out of autopilot and be in the moment instead.

What about you? Maybe it’s time to ditch your personal sat nav and think about achieving some new goals…such as stepping into the spotlight.

Here’s to seeing youin the spotlight.

Catriona Pollard From Unknown To Expert CP Communications

P.S. Watch this space. In the next few days you’ll find out how you will have the opportunity to spend a day with me developing your personal strategy to move from unknown to recognised expert. We’ll be working on your personal brand, media angles, which journalists to pitch to, and so much more. So exciting!

A ‘Good Life’ is relative to the individual and the ‘4 Pillars of a ‘Good Life– Health, Wealth, Love and Happiness are the main criteria in varying degrees to achieve this goal. Together, they can create the lifestyle you seek and the ‘Good Life‘ you deserve!

Let us assist you in creating the Good Life with the Courses and Resources we have made available to you at Michael Thornley Org.

TheDalai Lamatells us that “The point to life is happiness.” Yet so many of us struggle to find it in a world full of stress and expectation.

(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)

People tend to believe that in order to achieve happiness you need only have money (wealth) and to amass a host of material objects. But to have wealth alone does not necessarily bring you health, love and/or happiness. Additionally, many people judge success purely on wealth, yet it is a combination of all these factors that achieves positive results in your life.

Remember, we should also be rich of heart and soul as well , an important asset to have in driving your passion to achieve your goals. And believing in yourself and having the faith and fortitude to step outside the square or at the very least to push out from your bubble is paramount in obtaining the ‘Good Life‘

I firmly believe that a combination of Wealth, Health and Love can indeed equal Happiness. A ‘Good Life’ is a balance of all these factors. :)…………..

MORE THAN 5,000 RHINOS HAVE BEEN POACHED IN SOUTH AFRICA SINCE 2010. ONE RHINO IS KILLED EVERY 6 HOURS. RHINOS WILL BE EXTINCT IN THE WILD BY 2024, IF WE DO NOT ACT NOW.

As many of my friends know I have been a conservationist all my life. No not a ‘greeny‘ as such but a realist in that sometimes ‘mankind’ MUST assist in the conservation of all that Mother Earth nurtures.

More often than not is is because of ‘Mankind’ that species are threatened or become extinct. However we also have the power to try and rectify the atrocities caused by archaic beliefs or simply from greed and some weird ego play these modern day so called sporting ‘hunters’ have.

Rhino’s (Rhinoceros) the world over have been hunted and poached for their horns or forced to the verge of extinction by increasing demand on their habitats.

I for one support captive breeding in order to save the species and there are many movements that are working hard yet need our support to achieve this. Withing the Order of the Southern Cross Organisation of which I founded in 2010, we have a Conservation arm- CSO-OSC Conservation of Species group committed to the education and awareness of ‘mankinds’ effect on all living things.CSO-OSC Conservation of SpeciesAnd I personally support the International efforts to create breeding populations of all 5 species and subspecies to assist in the protection of those remaining in the wild.
In addition, I encourage the education of certain traditional cultures surrounding the NON aphrodisiac properties in the keratin of a horn and the reduction of poverty in the ‘poaching’ communities of Africa.

The following is just one of fabulous International efforts to save the White and Black Rhino’s by relocating 80 individuals to Australia.The Australian Rhino Project

“It’s not surprising that women and men alike say balancing work life with family life is an ongoing challenge. Juggling kids, a spouse and a career aren’t as easy as carving out time for each; it’s more like playing a 3-D chess game, which requires skill, advanced strategies and integrated thinking.

Instead of moving chess pieces on multiple boards, however, balancing the demands of work and family—especially for entrepreneurs—requires careful coordination, organization, communication and delegation. The good news is; it can be done. To help you attain a richer, more rewarding and balanced life, here are nine tips for balancing work and family:

1. Rally your troops.

If your goal is to find balance, you’ll need to integrate your needs, along with those of your kids, spouse, career and friends, into a whole. But don’t do it alone. Get help from family, friends, neighbors and others when you need additional support. If you prepare for the unexpected by putting a solid contingency plan in place, you’ll find those last-minute emergencies to be a little less jarring. The key is to allow yourself to ask for and receive help.

2. No bad feelings.

Everyone has been subjected to programming, and one of the ways people become conditioned over time is to feel guilty when problems arise. If you want to balance the ever-changing demands of work with your family responsibilities, start by saying bye-bye to guilt. It does no good because it keeps you rooted in what went wrong instead of what needs to happen to make it right—and it will only delay your progress toward attaining balance.

3. Know when enough is enough and spread the word.

In a perfect world, you might not need to set boundaries … but here on Earth, you do. The limits you set are the only thing that could protect you from the actions of others. By defining what’s acceptable to you, you can determine how to manage your time, space and emotional availability.

Establishing clear boundaries makes the extent of your responsibilities clear. It also signals others regarding the types of demands you’re willing to accept. If you don’t set boundaries, you’ll find it much harder to say no. Remember, these are reasonable boundaries that you’re implementing for the well-being of your loved ones, and they’re necessary to balance the demands of work and family.

4. Whose standards? Your standards.

The key to living a richer, more rewarding life is to set your own standards. That means ditching any illusions of perfectionism. Aim for small compromises that don’t undercut the interests of your spouse, kids, boss, friends or close family members. As long as you’re comfortable with the standards you’re setting for your work and home life—and your family’s needs and boss’ expectations are being met—you’re golden.

5. Find Your “Alone Zone.”

With so many demands placed upon you, it’s easy to lose sight of your own needs. So, go for a walk, soak in the tub or find some other way to unwind, de-stress and ease the tension. Carving out a little “me time” will do wonders for your state of mind and overall health, and it will also benefit your family and co-workers.

6. Everything should be in its place.

To effectively balance work and family, you’ll need to get organized. Start by setting your priorities, and be prepared to delegate. Remember that lists are your friend (and they’re re-usable!). Be sure to make room for an easy-to-reach calendar, so you can map out everyone’s activities.

7. Stretch to stay flexible.

When you decided to have kids, you basically traded your what is for a giant what could be. So, embrace it. Cut yourself some slack when you miss an occasional goal or deadline. Just don’t get too comfortable, and be prepared to assume responsibility for any must-have projects or tasks that need to be completed, whether for work or home.

Staying flexible like this is one way to reduce the stress that comes with juggling multiple responsibilities. Another is to stretch your idea of success to allow for changes to your original game plan. Sometimes you have to revise your goals to allow for different-but-just-as-challenging ones. And that’s okay.

8. Enjoy time with your family.

Your family is your greatest source of love and strength. By setting aside time to do things together, you’ll be investing directly in the people through whom all of your successes have relevance. So, commit to being with them and enjoying that time together. Create family traditions, play together and develop relationships with your spouse and children that will fuel your achievements in other areas of your life.

9. Integrate for balance.

To find harmony in your life, you’ll need to integrate your work, family and friends into a unified whole. There’s no one way to do this—it depends on what you deem acceptable—so strive for balance and maintain perspective when the road gets bumpy. It’s all about finding ways to blend the needs of your loved ones with the requirements of your career.

Managing kids, a spouse and a career is never easy, especially for entrepreneurs. But you can attain a richer, more rewarding and balanced life if you develop a creative way to balance your family responsibilities with the demands of your career. Keeping these nine tips in mind should help.

A ‘Good Life’ is relative to the individual and the ‘4 Pillars of a ‘Good Life– Health, Wealth,Love and Happiness’ are the main criteria in varying degrees to achieve this goal. Together, they can create the lifestyle you seek and the ‘Good Life‘ you deserve!

(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool,File)

The Dalai Lama tells us that “The point to life is happiness.” Yet so many of us struggle to find it in a world full of stress and expectation.

People tend to believe that in order to achieve happiness you need only have money (wealth) and to amass a host of material objects. But to have wealth alone does not necessarily bring you health, love and/or happiness. Additionally, many people judge success purely on wealth, yet it is a combination of all these factors that achieves positive results in your life.

Remember, we should also be rich of heart and soul as well , an important asset to have in driving your passion to achieve your goals. And believing in yourself and having the faith and fortitude to step outside the square or at the very least to push out from your bubble is paramount in obtaining the ‘Good Life‘

I firmly believe that a combination of Wealth, Health and Love can indeed equal Happiness. A ‘Good Life’ is a balance of all these factors. :)…………..

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‘The universe is composed of subjects to be communed with, not objects to be exploited. Everything has its own voice. Thunder and lightening and stars and planets, flowers, birds, animals, trees — all these have voices and they constitute a community of existence that is profoundly related.‘
~ Thomas Berry ~
(Image: ‘Stained Glass Wing’ – Black Meadowhawk Dragonfly by Pieter Van Dokkum)

Every year I have a digital free holiday. This time a few years ago I turned off my phone and travelled around Myanmar (Burma) for three weeks. There was no point in taking my phone with me as there was very little phone or wifi access. Scary, yet liberating at the same time.

Just a few weeks ago I went on a yoga retreat and decided to use the opportunity do a digital detox. Surprisingly, not only was I the only one who turned all of my devices off, I was the only one who thought to do it. Even the teacher openly used her phone.

Addicted to digitalOver 60% of people admit to being addicted to the internet and their devices. I really think it’s worth asking the question…would I find it difficult to not take my phone with me on holidays, to grab a coffee, to go for a walk, to go to bed, to…?

I check my email first thing and last thing in the day – as I do the Facebook, Twitter and Instagram twirl. Like most professionals, I spend up to 10 hours a day online.

Our constant need for new stimulation, endless access to information and social connection is changing our brains. It’s impacting our long-term memory as well as our wellbeing.

At times I wonder if our addiction to digital is making us to lead lives that are a centimetre deep, and a kilometre wide.

Do nothing. Be bored.An amazing thing happens when you are not constantly digitally stimulated. Your mind quiets down. When was the last time you experienced that?

Be brave, and feel the sensation of being bored. Don’t pick up the phone. Just daydream instead. Even try meditation.

The internet is a significant part of my life. Without it I wouldn’t have a business. For me, it’s not going away, and I don’t want it to go away! But in addition to having a digital free holiday a year, I am working on creating digital free rituals at home. It’s a work in progress.

I hope you have a wonderful time over holidays (with or without digital). I’m off to Hawaii with friends, and trust me there will be digital – heaps of cocktail, sunset and selfie shots! See you in the New Year.

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Our guest video blog today is from one of my Mentors, a young and very successful entreprenuer Justin Atlan. Whilst he is specifically referring to how you view your Business, I believe we can adopt this concept and apply it to our personal lives as well. Enjoy 🙂

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